Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 22: Saying that creation of employment opportunities for un-employed youth of the State is top priority of the Coalition Government, the Minister of State for Industries and Commerce, Sajjad Ahmed Kitchloo today said it has been made mandatory to employ the local youth in fixed proportion, adding that necessary modifications have already been made in the State industrial policy for this purpose.
Replying to the discussion on grants for the departments and PSUs under his charge, in the Legislative Assembly today, Mr. Kitchloo said that the Industrial sector has a key role in the socio-economic development of the State, adding that at present about 20,000 souls get their livelihood from industries directly or indirectly. He said the sector has still a vast potential for employment generation for which there was a need to create awareness among the youth about various special incentives and packages available under both Central and State industrial policies in vogue. Now, it has been decided to launch a vigorous awareness campaign at block, tehsil and district levels for the purpose, he added.
Mr. Kitchloo said the single window system has been made more vibrant and hassle free as a result of which 722 micro and small scale units have been cleared besides allotment of about 1638.53 kanals for setting up industrial units. Responding to the points raised by the members, the Minister said that revival of sick industries has also been taken up due to which 457 identified sick units in the State have been revived with assistance of about Rs. 3.70 crore so far.
Mr. Kitchloo said that 19 new industrial estates are being developed in the State including 9 in Jammu and 10 in Kashmir division raising the total number of industrial estates in the State to 67. He said 2061 industrial units have been registered in the State since 2000-09 with an investment of Rs. 880 crore. He said, besides setting up new Industrial Estates, the existing estates are also being upgraded in a phased manner. He said price preference to SSI sector, as marketing support, will be implemented in letter and spirit adding that violators of these guidelines will be dealt with sternly.
He said a novel handicrafts promotion initiative has been launched under Artisan Credit Card Scheme (ACC) recently to provide credit facility upto Rs. one lakh to the artisans on nominal interest rate adding that 64000 souls have been brought under the ambit of Health Insurance coverage. He said 10 handicrafts clusters of different trades for artisans of the Shahr-e-Khaas, at a cost of Rs. 64 crore, have been set-up besides distributing 500 modernized looms to artisans free of costs. As many as 8000 such looms will be provided to the artisans in a phased manner, Mr. Kitchloo added.
He said this year the sale of handicraft products is expected to yield Rs. 1700 crore, adding that Rs. 5.87 crore massive skill upgradation project for carpet industry has been approved by Union Ministry of Textiles where 43000 persons will be trained in carpet manufacturing. He said two Handloom Clusters Development Projects at Saidpora costing Rs. 59.60 lakh and other at Parigam, Pulwama with the cost of Rs. 60 lakh have been sanctioned this year to give boost to handloom activities in a big way. In addition, 5 Special Handloom Projects at a cumulative cost of Rs. 40 crore for South Kashmir, Central Kashmir, Leh and Kishtwar have been sent to Union Ministry of Textiles for approval.
Mr. Kitchloo said that a mega food park costing Rs. 78 crore over an area of 400 kanals and a Mega Textile park at Grovidsar, Kathua on 200 kanals at a cost of Rs. 18.84 crore are also being developmed to promote major industries in the State.
While highlighting achievements of various PSUs, Mr. Kitchloo said that the J&K Cements, which is one of the profit making organizations in public sector, has earned a profit of Rs. 3.40 crore this year adding that one more 600 ton per day capacity cement plant at Khrew, Pulwama is also coming up.
He said J&K Small Scale Industries Development Corporation (SICOP) has provided marketing support to 855 SSI units amounting to Rs. 174 crore, and Rs. 632 crore as raw material support. He said JKI is being modernized, for which Rs. 2.50 crore are being spent for revival of Government Silk Factory, Rajbagh and Rs. 2.50 crore for Government Woolen Mills Bemina.
Mr. Kitchloo informed the House that an ambition Rs.160 crore Magnesite Plant at Panthal, Reasi which was struck for last 23 years has now been cleared to exploit huge reserves of dead burnt megnesite in the area.
As many as 15 members took part in discussion on demand of grants including Nasir Aslam Wani, Indu Pawar, T. Namgyal, Er. Abdul Rashid, Ajaz Ahmed Jan, Ashok Kumar, Krishan Chander Bhagat, Dr. Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, Ashwani Kumar, Balwant Singh Mankotia, Haji Mohammad Ashraf Ganai, Baldev Sharma, Javed Ahmed Dar, Yashpal Kundal and Lal Chand.
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